Synopsis: "His life was barely worth a dollar. He slept outside, on park benches, in stairwells, under bushes. Michael Gaulden lived in shelter after shelter across the United States. With his father incarcerated and mother disabled, he stayed homeless for ten years.
From the age of seven to seventeen, Michael, with his mother and sister, journeyed along his own underground railroad, desperately searching for a way to free his family from the sewers of society.
Michael learned death was a big part of youth homelessness. Education was not. To survive, he had to become something more. Caught in between two worlds– his dreams vs. his reality– violence, gangsters, hunger, poverty, and sorrow marked his daily life.
Michael vowed to change his fate through getting his high school diploma. He never hoped to dream that not only would he graduate from high school but also from a prestigious California university. This is the true story of a homeless boy, marked for prison or worse, who fought against tremendous odds and persevered to achieve academic and professional success." (Source: Amazon)
What we learned:
- Developing personal connections and showing empathy are key to assisting those who are disenfranchised! Michael experienced the intersectional issues of being a Black man in an inner city as well as being homeless. It was clear that he appreciated any help he could receive to have his basic needs met, but he was frustrated by the dehumanization and lack of empathy of homeless people as a whole. He described the ways in which people on the outside saw the homeless experience as a monolith when in reality, each person's individual experience is different. When working with disenfranchised people, it is important to maintain personal connections and get to know each person on an individual level, as everyone has different circumstances.
- Validation is key. Michael was frustrated by both the toxic positivity of those in shelters as well as the pessimism displayed by his school counselors. To help people overcome difficult life circumstances, we must not fall into either of those categories. Rather, we should make sure to validate whatever the individual may or may not be feeling, and set our own biases and judgements aside.
- Representation, representation, representation! Michael made it clear that he was frustrated by the lack of role models he could turn to who had a similar experience to his own. He made it a point in his life to return to his community and be that role model for others. As people on the outside of such situations, we need to amplify voices like Michael's to encourage and inspire others who may be facing similar challenges. Additionally, we must ensure that those in power are truly representative of and care about the populations they serve.
Actionable items:
- Learn more about homelessness and ways to be involved in your area.
- Learn about homelessness and disenfranchisement and find ways to advocate in your community through voter clinics or any other means!